Nevada
Nevada Solar Incentives 2026 — Net Metering at 75% of Retail & Tax Abatements
Nevada's AB 405 net metering credits excess energy for new customers at 75% of the retail rate, locked for 20 years, and the state offers property and sales tax abatements on solar. Excellent sun helps offset moderate electricity rates.
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Incentive categories
2
Program entries
13.11¢
Avg rate / kWh
16.8 yrs
Simple solar payback
$28,880
25-yr net solar savings
Excellent
Solar potential
Solar Incentives in Nevada
Nevada Net Metering (AB 405)
75% of retail for excess energy (new customers)
Energy left after monthly netting is credited at a percentage of the retail rate that stepped down from 95% to 75%; new customers receive 75%, locked for 20 years at the original location.
Eligibility: NV Energy customers with systems up to 25 kW.
Heat Pump Incentives in Nevada
Federal HEAR Framework (State Availability Varies)
Statutory household cap up to $14,000
Federal law sets measure and household caps, but consumers can use rebates only where the state or territory program is active and funded. A listed cap is not an available award.
Eligibility: Income, equipment, project, state-program, and funding rules apply; confirm availability with the administering state program before purchase.
Get Free Solar Quotes for Your Home
Open the external EnergySage marketplace to request and compare itemized solar proposals.
Your estimated 25-year savings: $28,880
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Solar Policy & Local Utilities in Nevada
Net Metering
Net metering (restored, tiered)Nevada restored net metering in 2017 with AB 405 after a 2015–16 rollback that nearly halted the rooftop market. Exports are now credited at a tiered percentage of the retail rate (roughly 75%).
Source: Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) / DSIRE
Major Utilities
- NV Energy
Nevada Solar Facts
- Nevada's rooftop solar market collapsed after 2015 net-metering cuts, then rebounded once credits were restored in 2017. (PUCN)
- Nevada has an excellent desert solar resource, among the highest in the country. (NREL)
Last verified: 2026-06. Always confirm current terms with your utility or at DSIRE.
Is Solar Worth It in Nevada?
Nevada has the second-best solar resource in the continental US (6.2 peak sun hours/day in Las Vegas), but low electricity rates (13.11¢/kWh) limit the financial return. Homeowners in higher NV Energy pricing tiers — and those who maximize self-consumption — see significantly better payback than the statewide average.
Nationally, EnergySage reports the average U.S. homeowner saves about $60,500 over 25 years by going solar, without the expired federal credit (page updated June 2026). Actual savings vary by state, electricity rate, export rules, and system size.
Key Advantage
Nevada's sun resource is exceptional — Las Vegas averages 6.2 peak hours/day year-round, ranking second only to Phoenix nationally.
Watch Out For
With electricity averaging 13.11¢/kWh, Nevada's base rates are among the lowest in the West — limiting how much each solar kWh saves. Modeled payback without the expired federal ITC is about 16.8 years for average-rate customers.
Solar Cost & Savings in Nevada (8 kW System)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross install cost | $31,840 |
| Net install cost | $31,840 |
| Annual energy savings | $1,899 |
| Simple payback period | 16.8 years |
| 25-year net savings | $28,880 |
The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) is not available for expenditures after Dec 31, 2025 and is not included above. State and utility incentives may still apply and are listed separately.
* Planning example for an 8 kW system: $3.98/W installed (LBNL 2024 national median; no state-specific sample), 6.2 peak sun hrs/day, one 20% system derate, 0.5%/yr panel degradation from year two, and 13.11¢/kWh escalating 2.5%/yr. Nevada is a net-billing state: exported solar is credited below the retail rate (Nevada PUC: AB 405 net metering credits excess energy for new customers at 75% of the retail rate). No published average export rate or self-consumption share is on file, so this table still assumes every kWh offsets retail-rate electricity and therefore overstates savings for systems that export heavily. Size to your own consumption or add storage. Tax credits require eligibility and sufficient tax liability.
Get Free Solar Quotes for Your Home
Open the external EnergySage marketplace to request and compare itemized solar proposals.
Your estimated 25-year savings: $28,880
We are not affiliated with EnergySage and receive no commission or referral fee. The button opens an external site; review its terms and privacy policy.
How to Go Solar in Nevada: Step-by-Step
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Check your actual rate and plan
Review your NV Energy bill to see the rate you actually pay per kWh, including any time-of-use pricing. Solar you use on-site saves that full rate, while excess energy earns 75% of the retail rate, so your own bill is a better guide than the statewide average.
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Get several quotes and compare price per watt
Compare itemized quotes from multiple installers; LBNL's 2024 national median of about $3.98/W is a useful reference, and prices vary widely by installer.
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Confirm your net metering credit rate
New net metering customers receive 75% of the retail rate for excess energy under AB 405, locked for 20 years. Confirm the terms in writing from NV Energy before installing.
Frequently Asked Questions — Solar & Clean Energy in Nevada
Is solar worth it in Nevada in 2026?
Nevada is a mixed case: exceptional sun + low install costs are offset by low base electricity rates (13.11¢/kWh). Modeled payback is about 16.8 years for NV Energy customers at the state-average rate. However, NV Energy's tiered rate structure means high-usage homes (in upper tiers at $0.14–0.18/kWh) do meaningfully better than that state-average figure. Note: The federal 25D ITC expired Dec 31, 2025.
What solar incentives are available in Nevada?
Nevada offers: (1) net metering under AB 405, which credits excess energy for new customers at 75% of the retail rate, (2) property tax abatement on solar equipment, and (3) sales tax abatement on solar equipment. Note: The federal 25D solar ITC expired Dec 31, 2025.
How does NV Energy net metering work?
Under AB 405 (2017), energy left over after monthly netting is credited at a percentage of the retail rate that stepped down from 95% to 75% as statewide capacity grew. New customers now receive 75%, locked for 20 years at the original location. Solar you use on-site offsets the full retail rate. Confirm your terms with NV Energy (nvenergy.com).
Are there differences between Las Vegas and Reno solar economics?
Las Vegas metro (Clark County) averages 6.2+ peak sun hours — among the highest in the US. Northern Nevada (Reno, Carson City) averages 5.5–5.7 hours. Both significantly outperform the national average. The difference is less about sun and more about which NV Energy rate plan you're on and your tier of usage.
Does Nevada have net metering in 2026?
Nevada net metering status: Net metering (restored, tiered). Nevada restored net metering in 2017 with AB 405 after a 2015–16 rollback that nearly halted the rooftop market. Exports are now credited at a tiered percentage of the retail rate (roughly 75%). (Source: Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) / DSIRE.)
Which utilities in Nevada offer solar programs?
The main electric utilities in Nevada are NV Energy. Confirm current offers with your utility and check DSIRE.org for Nevada programs.
Recommended Products for Nevada
Product examples are provided for comparison only. Confirm electrical compatibility, installer requirements, warranty terms, and any current utility incentive before purchase.
Calculate Your Nevada Savings
The Solar ROI link preselects Nevada's planning inputs, including the listed electricity rate (13.11¢/kWh). Other tools open with their own defaults; review every input before calculating.
Browse Other States
Data Sources & Methodology
Incentive data: DSIRE, U.S. DOE Home Energy Rebates, IRS residential credit guidance, and linked state program pages. Electricity rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (June 2026). Solar resource: NREL PVWatts reference with state-level planning inputs, not an address-specific API result. Installed price: LBNL Tracking the Sun (Residential systems installed in 2024), a median rather than a quote. The 2.5% annual rate change is a model assumption, not a forecast. Sources and methodology reviewed 2026-09-06. Always verify current amounts with the administering agency and utility.